Proceedings Paper

Q-switching of the Er:Cr:YSGG laser at 2.79 micrometers is realized using electrooptic modulators of PLZT X/65/35 ceramics. The high (but slow as compared with single crystals) electrooptical effect in PLZT allowed to construct Q-switches with an aperture larger than 4 X 4 mm2, small lengths of 3 - 6 mm, with a control voltage of 1000 - 1500 V. Q-switching is realized using modulators in two modes--as a (lambda) /2 switch placed into the laser cavity at the Brewster angle avoiding reflection losses and as a (lambda) /4 switch with higher single pass losses due to Fresnel reflections. A higher laser output was obtained using (lambda) /2 switching. The obtained pulses had a halfwidth of 150 ns, a pulse build-up time of 1.8 - 2.5 microsecond(s) , a single pulse energy of 10 - 12 mJ as compared with 30 mJ output of the laser for the free-running mode.